Around 100 Indian students stranded in Iran amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran are expected to return to India on March 14 and 15 after travelling to Armenia by road and boarding commercial flights from there. The group will be the first batch of Indian students to return from the conflict-affected region as concerns grow over the safety of foreign nationals in Iran. Most of the students are currently enrolled in medical universities across the country and have been coordinating with student organisations and authorities to arrange safe travel.
A majority of the students in this batch are from Kashmir. According to details shared by the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA), the students will travel from northwestern Iran to Armenia by land before flying out of Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan. The journey will involve travelling from different Iranian cities, mainly Urmia, to the Armenia border before boarding international flights back to India.
Most of the students are scheduled to reach India on March 14, while the remaining are expected to arrive the following day. JKSA National Convenor Nasir Khuehami said the students have booked seats on Flydubai flights that will operate as connecting services through Dubai. From Dubai, the passengers will continue their journey to Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. The first group is expected to travel on Flydubai flight FZ8124 as part of the planned arrangements.
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Students studying at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences have reportedly been given two possible exit routes from the country: through Armenia or Azerbaijan. While some students are preparing to travel by land to neighbouring countries, others are planning to leave through commercial flights once they reach nearby international airports outside Iran.
At Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, where dozens of Indian students are currently enrolled, authorities have suggested another evacuation route through Azerbaijan. Under this arrangement, students may travel along the Shiraz–Qom route to Baku Airport and then board international flights to India. Several students have already booked flights for March 15, March 16 and later dates depending on travel arrangements and availability.
The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said it had earlier approached the Ministry of External Affairs, seeking assistance to facilitate the Armenia land route, which is currently considered the most feasible corridor for safe passage. Khuehami said the ministry acknowledged the request and helped facilitate permissions required for the students’ travel. However, officials reportedly indicated that there is currently no formal evacuation plan, and students returning are doing so through commercial flight arrangements while authorities continue to monitor the situation.
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